Reinventing Leadership: Drawing Inspiration from the Spirit of Resistance
Sylvie Gendreau
I help CEOs, SVPs, executive teams, leaders, and high performers define and achieve their vision and positively impact the world.
Leadership today is undergoing a profound transformation. Economic crises, pandemics, environmental challenges: our leaders face increasingly complex issues.
But what are we lacking today?
Visionary, ethical leadership capable of overcoming challenges and uniting people around a common cause.
In a recent episode of La Grande Librairie, the philosopher Edgar Morin, a leading expert on complexity and human resilience, aged 104, shared one of the most significant periods of his life: his engagement in the Resistance. For him, resisting meant fighting for what was right and demonstrating unwavering fraternity.
A Wonderful Lesson for Leaders
Every era has its crises and challenges, but the fundamental principles of commitment, solidarity, and courage remain constant. For us, today’s leaders, this means leading our teams with integrity and creating a space of trust and empathy, which is essential qualities in uncertain times.
Passing Down Values Across Generations
The poem Liberty by Paul éluard, read by Joanne Samalens-Lagardère, the 12-year-old winner of the national reading competition, embodies this same spirit of resistance. This intergenerational exchange delivers a simple yet powerful message: regardless of the era, values like hope, freedom, fraternity and courage remain timeless guides for our actions.
A Visionary Model of Leadership
This month, I invite you to discover the extraordinary story of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade. As head of one of the most significant resistance networks during World War II, she led with a clear vision and an exemplary spirit of collaboration. Her story is detailed in Lynne Olson’s best-selling book, Madame Fourcade's Secret War—a compelling and essential read for understanding what it means to lead with resilience and determination. An inspiring lesson for modern leader!
?As leaders, let’s ask ourselves: What does resistance mean to us?
Is it persevering in the face of difficulties, rallying our teams around a shared vision, and building a space where ethics and collaboration prevail? To turn today’s challenges into opportunities, let’s draw inspiration from past acts of resistance and sow the seeds of authentic leadership today.
Discover the full article on Marie-Madeleine Fourcade: ?? Visionary of the Resistance and Leadership Model, Crisis in Leadership ?? Where Are the Visionaries We Need?
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